I understood what Niko meant. For years, a blonde was a blonde, a brunette was a brunette. There were very few women that stood out to me. The one I thought I knocked up I recalledvividly– but not because she was special, just scared the shit out of me. And of course, my Kitty Kat. I knew every dip, curve, and line of her body. Her face was burnt into my mind so much that I’d see it in my sleep, when I blinked, and even sometimes when I was wide awake and she was nowhere in sight.
“Who is that?” I asked, looking down at the photo of Jeannie, or whoever the fuck she was, and a few others.
Antonov leaned, pointing as he identified each person. “Well, you now know this is Gianna, her mother Anna, and that’s Anthony De Luco.”
“He died, no?” Niko asked, as if he was seeking confirmation.
Antonov nodded. “Yes, several years back. But Anna’s maiden name is Martinelli.”
I hadn’t handed over the recording yet, but Keys had sent it to me, and I’d already discovered the connection. Reaper was the founder, and Raptor had taken over as president when he died. We all knew the story of him taking over, but I didn’t know why.
Pops was against violence on women. He had his own horror story as to why. If he found out Reaper was running humans instead of guns, it would have set him off. And now I knew Reaper was with Anna at some point, a long time ago. It was possible Raptor and Pops were in it together, or Pops took him out for his own satisfaction. Raptor had been VP so he moved up and held the seat for a long time until he was killed. He’d grown Atlanta and set up a nice club, but Pops was the one who expanded it to other chapters and grew it to what it was today.
Antonov pulled a few more documents out, some photos, some statements. “Bit of a story, but we believe Anna’s been running a ring for years. Well, we thought it was De Luco, but when he passed, it only grew.”
“Why didn’t you shut it down?” I asked.
Antonov shrugged. “Unfortunately, on this side of the law, it’s not always that simple.”
“And now?”
“With the bust at the airport and all the ties to Martinelli’s crew, we have a lot more to go on. But all the info you can provide helps. We’re sweeping her neighborhood now. Looks like her street was all part of her crew. But as we already know, they’re smart. Not sure how much we’ll find that can lead us to any answers. ”
Niko glanced over, tilting his head as his smile turned into a line.
“If I could give you something to help, what’s in it for me?”
Antonov sat his pen down, leaning back in his chair. “Is it not enough that you were not detained? Or asked how all those men were dead?”
“No. Unfortunately, it’s not. But if you can assure me it stays that way, we may be able to help each other,” I said. There was no way now I could go after Anna De Luco, so my best bet was to ensure she was indicted. And I had enough evidence to help one of our own.
Niko folded his hands in his lap. “I can vouch for Special Agent Antonov working in our best interest.”
“First things first, I want you to take over a case.”
Chapter 40
Katarina
True to his word, I had non-stop visitors. But Papa came and only left to take a call. He and Mama Hen were friendly, and just like her normal self, she made sure he was comfortable, hydrated, and fed.
“My poor littleKatushka. We need to get you out of this dreary place and cleaned up,” Papa said as he patted my hand.
“Perhaps if you’d let me, I could do as the nurses asked.” They’d told me I would need to walk unassisted, eat, but also use the restroom before I could be discharged. The idea of my father accidentally seeing my bare ass or listening while I used the restroom was mortifying.
“I can help you up,” he said as he held out a hand. “It’s already been a whole night.”
“Well, she was all hopped up on meds last night,” Mama Hen said as she went through a bag Squatch had brought for me. I was a little disappointed that Hawk hadn’t returned, but I knew he’d be here if he could. “I can help you shower so we can get the fuck out of here.”
I was not as bashful with her, but I was capable of showering. “I think I can handle it.”
“Oh no, hon. You can’t get that shoulder wet.”
“They put a film over it last time they changed it,” I said, trying hard to not sound ungrateful for all their concern.
“Yep but the first few days are the hardest, and you still don’t want water on it if you can help it. Trust me, I’ve seen plenty of naked women.”
“Haven’t we all,” Coop joked.
